Special Sub-Topic: Oz Political History Click Here To Play: Oz Political History

Robert Menzies became PM of Australia in 1939 after the death of Joseph Lyons. What coalition of parties did he lead?

United Australia and Country Parties. In his first stint as PM in 1938 Menzies was at the head of the UAP in coalition with the Country party. Menzies reorginized the UAP in to the Liberal party in the mid 1940s.

For how many days was Arthur Fadden PM of Australia before being ousted by a no-confidence vote on the floor of Parliament in 1941?

40. Fadden became PM after Menzies resigned. It was difficult for him to govern effectivly being the leader of the Country Party as it was the smaller coalition partner (Country Party).

The PM of Australia during most of WWII, John Curtin, held a seat in what state of Australia?

Western Australia & WA. The seat was Fremantle.

After John Curtin died in office, a caretaker PM was appointed. He served for only 8 days before Ben Chifley was elected by the ALP party room. Who was he?

Francis (Frank) Forde. Frank Forde. Dr Evatt was never PM, only opposition leader. Same for Calwell. Andrew Peacock was a leader of the Liberal party during the 1980s who never gained office.

Robert Menzies, Australia's longest serving PM, died in office?

f. Menzies did not die in office. He stepped down in January 1966 and let Holt become PM. He died in 1978.

Who am I? I was elected PM after Menzies left office and am well known for my support of the USA during the Vietnam war. In 1967 I disapeared of the coast while having a swim, never to be found. Who am I?

Harold Holt & Holt & harold holt & holt. It is still not known what happened to Holt, but most believe he became sharks' dinner.

Gough Whitlam, elected in 1972, was the first Labor PM for 23 years. He is most well known for his dismissal by the then Governor-General in November 1975. Who was the Governor-General that sacked Gough?

John Kerr & Sir John Kerr. Gough lost the impending election to Malcom Fraser and remained in opposition until 1978 before retiring from politics.

Just over a month before the 1983 election, Bob Hawke took over the leadership of the Labor Party. Who stepped aside/resigned/was kicked out to allow Hawke to take over?

Bill Hayden. Hawke, a former ACTU president won "an unloseable election". Hayden was given the post of Governor-General in 1989.

Who was the Liberal Party leader who, in 1993, lost an election to Paul Keating that many described as "unlosable" because in his policies was a tax rise?

John Hewson. John Hewson had a 15% Goods and Services Tax (GST) in his policy statement. The general population found it too hard to understand and didn't vote for him.

In 1996, Pauline Hanson broke away from the Liberal Party and formed a new party. This new party is well known for its racist, far right wing views. What party did she form?

One Nation. One Nation gained almost 10% of the vote at the 1998 election but this was dramatically reduced when John Howard "adopted" One Nation's immigration policies and its vote was almost halved at the 2001 election won by John Howard.